topic Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺 in Community Chat

😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

Mz iMac — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 19:42:07 GMT

Explosive’ diarrhea illness reported

across US

Cyclosporiasis is a parasitic infection that causes unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms often associated with food poisoning, such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. It is caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, also known simply as cyclospora, and is usually contracted through contaminated food.

The most common symptom is watery, frequent and sometimes "explosive" diarrhea, according to the CDC, though other stomach troubles can include:

Loss of appetite
Bloating, including burping and gas, or stomach cramps
Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
Fever
Nausea
Vomiting

Alaska
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Michigan
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Wisconsin

The source is still unknown.

SOURCE: TV Local & national news, newspapers, radio, all cable news networks even outside of the USofA news outlets like Sky News.

==================================

Those of you living in the highest impacted States, are you doing anything "special" to protect yourself?

I live in a low impact State (1-10 cases). Not doing anything "special."

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

PhilaLady1 — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 19:48:26 GMT

I got it. Day 2. I'm so miserable. I blame a bagged salad kit. But feel a tiny bit better now that I've told you all!

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

charsha — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 19:56:46 GMT

I grow my own lettuce, and added more to grow. Little Leaf brand is also a safe bet, hydroponic. Stopped buying strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. The blueberries I had I made a coffee cake. I miss fresh broccoli, though. They say frozen is safe, but as long as fresh is cooked, it should be safe. I am not sure I want to take the chance. Local farmers markets and growers are also an option, but I would question their methods. Not a fan of canned veggies, but anything cooked should be safe.

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

charsha — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 19:58:08 GMT

@PhilaLady1 I'm so sorry you are suffering..........

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

PhilaLady1 — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 19:58:56 GMT

@charsha

Thank you.

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

Mz iMac — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 20:01:01 GMT

@PhilaLady1 I feel for ya.

One victim interviewed stated the only good thing about the illness is that you lose weight. Nothing stays down not even liquids.

She was on her 3rd week of symptoms living off of soup & water just so she can keep her stomach from growling.

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

Sooner — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 20:04:23 GMT

I don't even want to chance it. I threw out the berries and such yesterday and all the fresh lettuce. Kept the cabbage because I will cook it and the peppers. NO raw veggies for us until this is over.

I had that kind of distress with covid, and it would kill me for weeks. I got some canned zucchini and tomatoes to make soup with, and the cabbage, and everything is getting washed in the laundry room sink for now. What a mess!

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

Nightowlz — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 20:10:19 GMT

Not here yet. I'm still eating organic blueberries, strawberries & lettuce. No problems so far.

I read yesterday they think it may be lettuce but still not sure. The article said to buy head lettuce not to buy bagged. I don't buy bagged. It's always wet and sometimes gross slimy so it goes in the trash.

We have strawberries growing out back so hopefully they will take off so we don't have to buy them from the store. They are yummy.

Going to plant more lettuce when it cools off. Need to figure out how to do some hydroponic gardening indoors when it's cold.

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

Nightowlz — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 20:13:48 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@PhilaLady1 I feel for ya.

One victim interviewed stated the only good thing about the illness is that you lose weight. Nothing stays down not even liquids.
She was on her 3rd week of symptoms living off of soup & water just so she can keep her stomach from growling.

@Mz iMac

That's no fun when nothing stays down. I have had flu like that once in my life. I was so thirsty. I guzzled the water so it came right back up. Anything I tried to eat came out one end or the other. Popsicles were the only thing that stayed in my stomach. Doctor wanted to admit me since it had been almost 3 weeks. I told him no thanks.

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

Kachina624 — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 20:15:49 GMT

@PhilaLady1. Have you called or seen your doctor? Antibiotics help. Hope you feel better soon.

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

PhilaLady1 — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 20:21:55 GMT

@Kachina624

Thanks for the advice. I'm one of those people who hate going to the doctor.

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

Kachina624 — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 20:30:50 GMT

@PhilaLady1. Well, call and see if he/she will call in a prescription. Tell them you're afraid to stray from your bathroom.

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

SilleeMee — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 20:36:06 GMT

I've been sticking to frozen fruits/veggies. So far those have been safe but I still rinse the fruit before I'll eat it.

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

elated — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 21:22:10 GMT

They recommend buying whole heads of lettuce rather than prewashed bagged lettuce or premixed salad kits, discarding the outer two or three layers of leaves, and washing the remaining inner leaves thoroughly under running water.

For greens that can be cooked, cooking is considered the safest option. Routine rinsing and chemical sanitizers may reduce risk but cannot guarantee removal of the parasite. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also advises that consumers wash their hands before and after preparing produce, scrubbing firm fruits and vegetables with a clean brush, cutting away bruised or damaged areas, and refrigerating cut, peeled, or cooked produce within two hours.

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

september — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 21:26:53 GMT

At this time of year, I'm growing my own food or buying it from local farms. My state isn't on the list.

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

Snowpuppy — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 21:50:01 GMT

Checking in from The Hotspot of Michigan. 🙃

Most of the cases are in the SW corner of the state, Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo counties which are heavily agricultural. Not to mention the Traverse City Cherry Festival wrapped up last Saturday. That festival draws tens of thousands of tourists from all over. LOTS of local cherries and other produce are sold there.

Haven't purchased fresh fruits/veggies in the last week or so. We haven't seen any local restaurants taking items off the menu. Yet.

I can shop some Amish farms if need be. In the Detroit area a lot of produce comes in from Canada across the bridge.

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

SilleeMee — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 22:01:45 GMT

The parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis originates from human waste. An infection occurs when a person ingests food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person. 🤢

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

pdlinda — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 22:15:46 GMT

@Mz iMac

I just read that there are 10 cases reported in Arizona.

I bought fresh blueberries and strawberries at Costco yesterday. I wonder if I should just throw them out.

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

rockygems123 — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 22:16:55 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
The parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis originates from human waste. An infection occurs when a person ingests food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person. 🤢

@SilleeMee

Yep and it may originate in the fields, not exactly overloaded with porta potties.

Sobering thought

Re: 😳😱 Cyclosporiasis 🫨🥺

Ainhisg — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 22:33:50 GMT

@charsha wrote:
I grow my own lettuce, and added more to grow. Little Leaf brand is also a safe bet, hydroponic. Stopped buying strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. The blueberries I had I made a coffee cake. I miss fresh broccoli, though. They say frozen is safe, but as long as fresh is cooked, it should be safe. I am not sure I want to take the chance. Local farmers markets and growers are also an option, but I would question their methods. Not a fan of canned veggies, but anything cooked should be safe.

@charsha thanks for mentioning the Little Leaf brand. I had never heard of it but put it on my Walmart grocery pickup order for tomorrow. I read about it before doing so, and it *is* safe. Twice as expensive as what I usually get, but who cares? Not getting this parasite is worth it. In Missouri, we have very few cases of this (<100), but I'm not taking any chances.